The Science of Toxins Part 3

Michael Gold, MD

Dermatologists should be aware that the global medical aesthetic market is expected to grow 10.8% per year between 2010 an 2015 and many other companies are joining the toxin “band-wagon”.

Products Under Development/Currently Approved in Other Countries

• Medy-Tox – Neuronox (South American and Korea)
• Siax – Neuronox (Colombia)
• ChinaTox –Lanzhou Biological Products Institute, Nanfeng Medical  Science and Tech co.
• Lantox (South America)

Mentor is currently developing a product called PurTox, which is about one year away from filing with the FDA for approval. There are also several products currently available in Asia and South America. Dermatologist should recognize that in some instances where non-approved Botox formulations were used in the United States, patients required hospitalization due to paralysis and physicians were subject to major sanctions, fines, etc.

Summary

It is important that practitioners use branded products from legitimate companies that are either FDA approved in the US or CE marked in Europe, or received regulatory approvals in your country.  There are various unbranded products available on the internet; however, clinicians should use caution with regard to the use of these products due to safety and efficacy issues.